Bustle



(No Model;)

E. A. GILBERT.

BUSTLE.

No; 358,115. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

N. PETERS. Phmwulhognpher. Washington. uc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EFFIE A. GILBERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUSTLE;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,115, dated Pebruary22, 1887.

' Application filedNovembcr 2, 1886. Serial No. 217,784. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EFFIE A. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improveinents in Bustles; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to combined beltless suspended bustles andstocking-supporters; and it consistsin the construction and arrangementof the parts of the same, which will be more fully hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

One object of my invention is to provide a beltless bustle supported bystraps or suspenders passing over the shoulders, and having suitablestocking-supporters attached to the lower portion thereof, therebyproviding not only means of comfort and ease to the wearer, but at thesame time avoiding the injurious results which necessarily follow whereany great iv eight or strain comes upon the waist and ips.

A further object of my invention is to provide a beltless bustle whichis adapted to conform to the posture of the wearer when in a sittingposition, the bustle being free to be pressed inward against the rearportion (at the body and to assume its normal position when the weareris in a standing position, all of which is accomplished by means of thestock-- ing-supporters, in connection with the suspenders, and bydispensing with the use of a front securing strap or belt.

I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicatesimilar parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved bustle. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

A represents a bustle of the ordinary form of construction, which hasthe two ends formwhereby it is made to rigidly maintain its bustleshape, and,as illustrated,is covered with suitable material. To theupperportion of the bustle A, on each side near the point where theincline or ends, two shoulder-straps or suspenders, B B, are secured,being attached at their other ends to the rear portion of the saidbustle. These straps BB have a portion, 12, of each secured at one endto thebust1e,and have buckles b attached to their other ends, throughwhich the remaining portions of the said straps may be passed foradjustment. The straps B B cross each other in the rear portion of thebustle at the point b where they are secured together, the two endsthence passing downto the bustle in a form of construction similar tothe ordinary form of suspender. The inclines a have suitablestocking-supporters, O O, attached thereto, and,as illustrated in thedrawings, have buckles c c, for adjusting the same, and depending fromthe buckles c are two straps, c 0, having stocking-attaching loops 0 osecured to their ends. 4

The suspending-straps B B and stockingsupporters O 0, attached to thebustle A, as heretofore described, may be constructed with a portionthereof elastic, so as to allow the said parts to yield and give withthe varying motion of the body. The inclines cc of the bustle A give thegarment when over the same a more neat and easy appearance,by allowingit to thus gradually and regularly fall down over the said inclines, andprevent any abrupt or irregular appearance of this portion of the dress.

\Vhen the'straps B have been properly adj usted and put over theshoulders of the wearer,

the supporters O O are attached to the stockings bymeans of the loops cc' in awe1l-known manner. The garments are then thrown over the bustleA, supported in the manner heretofore described, the weight of saidgarments be ing brought to bear upon the shoulders. No belt encirclesthe front part of the waist, as the bustle is held in place andprevented from turning by means of the suspenders B B and the supportersO O, which act as stays or braces.

By this construction of a beltless bustle there is no weight whateverbrought to bear upon the front portion of the waist, thus avoidinginjury to this portion of the body. The wearer is allowed more ease inassuming difierent p0st- ICQ ures, the entire weight of all the garmentsbeing brought to bear upon the shoulders.

It is obvious that many minor details in the construction andarrangement of the parts of my bustle could be made and substituted forthose shown and described without in the least departing from the natureand principle of my invention.

I am aware that bustles havebeen constructed having suspenders andstocking-supporters, but have all been provided with and retained inplace by a belt, and such I do not claim; but

Vhat I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an improved article of manufacture, a bustle having suitableadjustable shoulder straps or suspenders attached to the upper portionthereof, and suitable stoeking-supporters connected to the lower frontportion, said sus ponders and stocking-supporters adapted to support andhold the bustle in place, thereby dispensing with the use of awaist-belt,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the bustle A, having inclined cut-away portionsa and a, of adj ustable shoulder-straps B B, connected to the upperportion thereof, and suitable stockingsupporters, O G, attached to thelower front portion, said suspenders B and supporters G supporting andretaining the bustle in place, and thereby dispensing with the use of awaistbelt, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' EFFIE A. GILBERT.

Witnesses:

.l. B. MiLLs, GEO. XV. XVooDBURY.

